King Shaka International Airport

Description

King Shaka International Airport (DUR), also known as La Mercy Airport, is a large airport situated in the La Mercy suburb of Durban, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. King Shaka International Airport replaced Durban International Airport in 2010 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup and now offers a much larger and modern airport space to travellers. The airport features a split-level layout with arrivals handled on the lower floor and departures on the upper floor. With a total floor area of 102 000 m2, the terminal is capable of handling 7.5 million passengers a year. The check-in space boasts 72 check-in counters and 18 self-service kiosks. Most of the airport's retail shops are situated on the lower floor, as well as a piazza area immediately outside the terminal building. The total retail space, including shops in the departure lounges, is 6 500m2.

The airport boasts a domestic terminal that serves the “Golden Triangle” (between Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban) as well as an international terminal that serves a variety of destinations. In addition, the airport also boasts a cargo terminal with an initial capacity for 150 000 metric tons of cargo a year. The airport building features a variety of restaurants, shops, banks, and a post office. Although the terminal does not have a public viewing deck, there are vantage points on the elevated departures drop-off road, as well as various other spots in the airport precinct.